Movie Rumor

51 Comments | Add a Comment

Send to a Friend Print

A snapshot of the Justice League.
© DC Comics

Update on Warner Bros' JLA Movie

By: Jarrod Sarafin, News Editor
Date: Monday, August 20, 2007
Source: Robert Sanchez at IESB

So many different factors come into play for the live action version of any JUSTICE LEAGUE movie. You, readers, already know which factors come into play for this big of a project. Still, I'm going to pass to you what Robert has said over at IESB after asking his Warner Bros sources. One big fact is apparently Warner Bros wants this film in production by March of 2008. They already have a finished script which they've already approved from scribes Kiernan and Michele Mulroney. They want this film ready to be released by Summer 2009 and they are taking a possible looming strike into account. Insiders in Warner Bros have also suggested this film will be the launching point for the DC characters of Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Aquaman. Expect to see their characters in this film before they get their own theatrical franchises.

So which factors come into play?

Christian Bale and the Batman producers are one major point of interest for Warner Bros. Nolan, Bale and company are on board/contract for 3 Batman movies and JLA would play a part in disrupting that deal. Will they be interested in more films under a new contract if Bale appears as Bats in this JLA movie? Where does that figure into a 3rd DARK KNIGHT film appearing by 2010-11. A new contract is needed and what would it take to get both Bale and Nolan back under the contract seeing how they've both dedicated so much time to the franchise thus far.

Another factor is Bryan Singer and the Superman franchise. Bryan's camp is already working on SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL which is scheduled to hit theaters in Summer 2009. This is the same exact time Warner Bros wants the JLA movie to appear. Routh and Singer, much like the Batman group, are signed on for 3 films. The future JLA movie again comes into play here.

Over the next few months, we're going to be seeing some news in regards to both these franchises (Nolan's DARK KNIGHT and Singer's SUPERMAN) because judging by what Warner Bros is telling Robert Sanchez at IESB, they really want a JLA movie fast tracked...

Now, it's time for your thoughts..

More Content By Jarrod Sarafin, News Editor

Agent Zero & Barnell Revealed for WOLVERINE
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
Amazon Producing Fantasy CHILD
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
Cameron Updates Status on AVATAR
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
Doomed JLA, More Mutants & Ant Man!
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
First Bloody Pic from LOST BOYS 2
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
IRON MAN Trailer Debuts on Feb 28 Lost
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
New Victims Ready for FINAL DESTINATION 4
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
Two More Gangsters for Mann's ENEMIES
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
Weaving Tracks After the WOLFMAN
(Friday, February 22, 2008)
BIONIC WOMAN Officially Axed by NBC?
(Thursday, February 21, 2008)

Buy These Related Products

Comments/Responses

jon41380 • Aug 20, 2007, 12:08am •

It would be smart to try and secure Bale for JLA with the 3 film contract. I would think he would be more likely to go for another Nolan Batman film rather than an ensemble film. Although I like him, Routh is probably just hoping that they don't recast, he would probably pay them to let him be in it.

• Aug 20, 2007, 12:24am •

Jon, that would mean Warner Bros would need to extend a deal with both Nolan and Bale. A JLA movie where Nolan is involved and Bale is set to appear counts as a "Batman" movie....and it would disrupt a 3rd Bats movie from appearing unless a new contract is written and all the parties agree to it.

The alternative would be Warner Bros casting a different Batman in the JLA movie while keeping Bale and Nolan on to do the 3rd Batman film...though this is very...shaky ground. Having two different "Batmans" for mainstream audiences who don't keep up with comics...JLA..etc...It would be risky for the studio.

mckracken • Aug 20, 2007, 12:34am •

how can JLA be the launching point for Wonder Woman if its coming out in 2009?
seven news articles down the list it says "Katie Holmes as WONDER WOMAN?" wouldnt the Wonder woman movie be coming out prior to 2009?

for Bale and Routh its pretty simple, edit their contracts from three pictures to four and include JLA in the four. Problem solved. (and do the same contract for Wonder Woman)
and forget the JLA movie if its not going to feature the Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl! ITS BLASPHEMY to dis the MANHUNTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Aug 20, 2007, 12:53am •

Did you read that article, McKracken? Katie Holmes being Wonder Woman is tabloid trash...It was a discussion for Mania members to have on who they would want as Wonder Woman...The production is still in oblivion after Joss Whedon left back in February..

Warner Bros wants JLA out by Summer 2009...future Wonder Woman movie be damned...

Brandon Routh would happily extend his contract...but the same can't be said for Bryan Singer. Warner Bros made a big deal about stealing him away from Fox in the middle of the X-Men series....If they screw him over, Singer may move to other studios...And I'm sure Warner Bros does not want that...

Jarrod Sarafin

Merin • Aug 20, 2007, 12:56am •

To get Bale and Routh involved in a JLA movie, I say let them count it as the "3rd" movie in their respective contracts and renegotiate with them for a "4th" movie, a movie that is still a "3rd" for Nolan and Singer.
Let Nolan and/or Singer be Producers on JLA if they want.

That's how I'd try to work things out.

jon41380 • Aug 20, 2007, 01:03am •

For some reason, I'm just not sure that they will be able to get Bale involved in an ensemble film where he won't be THE hero. I could be wrong but I doubt he would do that at this point in his career.

BunnyJacky • Aug 20, 2007, 03:27am •

I think this idea sucks. Each character should have a movie on its own, just the way it is now. On cartoon it's fun to watch but on movies, I don't think that idea would work.

Karkaju777 • Aug 20, 2007, 03:52am •

After waiting for so many years and witnessing so many fail attempts to bring the real Batman to the big screen, when Hollywood finally seems to get things on the right track they manage to come up with the most atrocious way conceivable to destroy the character for the fans.

Chris Nolan’s Batman, with all his dark, sober and realistic approach, has no business in a movie about a team of colorful superheroes and putting him there would just ruin one franchise for the sake of another.

It’s not saying that I don’t like the idea of a JLA flick, which I think could be cool. And yes, I know that Batman is one of the main characters for the group in the comics and in the cartoon. I It’s just that the Batman as we (finally) have now just doesn’t fit in it.

In a reverse analogy, it’s kind of like trying to make Bran Stoker’s Dracula but replace Anthony Hopkins’ Van Helsing for Buffy and her friends.

You want Bats in a JLA movie? Bring back Joel Schumacher with his obsession with nipples, neon lights, allegoric cars and flat one-liners and PLEASE leave The Dark Knight alone!

TKay42one • Aug 20, 2007, 05:46am •

Uh, I don't really care about the JLA one way or another...I've always been more of a Marvel fan myself...but BunnyJacky, by that logic, do you think they should have done a Wolverine movie, a Cyclops movie, a Storm movie, a Professor X movie, etc. instead of doing X-Men movies? I know that all the characters that make up the JLA started out in solo books, but the fact remains that the ensemble title also exists...so if they can make a somewhat entertaining movie, why not let them try? The worst that will happen is that we'll all bitch about it later.

hanso • Aug 20, 2007, 05:48am •

If Warner screws the Batman franchise because they are greedy and want a JLA film to launch the rest of the characters I"m going to be pissed.
Nolan already got Batman down. I don't want to see Bale's Batman on JLA. I hope they both pass and use their 3rd film for the Dark Knight sequel.

REcast Bats. Routh on the other hand is a diff story. Like someone posted, he would pay to be in the film cause let's face it he's new and no one takes him seriously. Let Singer direct if Warner is scared of losing him, although I personally would welcome any other director. If they cast Routh does it mean we are getting anorexic Lois Lane and Spacey as Lex also? I hope they recast Lois.
I think using JLA to launch the other characters is a good idea but don't mess up Bats to do it. Superman, that was a major let down for a lot of people so putting up a JLA film before Supes is fine by me.

Mania is the premiere online destination for fans of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and anime entertainment. It is the largest community offering profiles, video, science fiction movies, sci fi TV, art, sci fi comics, photos, cheats, blogs, science fiction books, forums and feedback. Mania offers insider entertainment industry info and original content for science fiction, fantasy, and horror entertainment genres including: video games, comics, gadgets, movies, television, toys, music, books, DVDs and more.